Weather and Traffic

Potential lottery pick still on the line for Hawks vs. Nets

The Hawks have two games against the current No. 7 seed Nets in the next five days, starting tonight at Philips Arena. They will have a chance to knock the Nets back down the standings. Maybe more importantly, the Hawks can push the Nets back into the draft lottery, still holding the right to swap first-round picks.

It might not be the sole motivation for winning, but the Hawks know what's at stake.

"So I hear, I'm not a big front-office guy, but we get that first-round pick," Kent Bazemore said. "I think these are two very important games riding on this. ...

"I think we are anxious (for the playoffs to start). But if you look too far ahead you might trip on something right in front of you."

The Heat remain in the No. 8 spot and are currently the Hawks' first-round opponent. The Hornets loss Friday dropped them to two games out of the final spot.

The Nets, Heat and Hornets are all in action Saturday night.

Here’s how things stand in the Eastern Conference for the final two spots: